With more varieties of fruits becoming available year-round, it’s tempting to bring them home — only to have them sit on the table or in the fridge. Rather than ponder how in the world to cut up healthy treats like coconut, pomegranate, passion fruit, pineapple, mango and others, this visual guide will have you prepping them like a pro. And as a bonus, see the end of this graphic for a few more clever hacks that will help you make the most of your fruits.more→

The holiday season is a time for celebrating the ones you love, giving back to your community and eating—and for many people, that means a lot of meat. As with many traditions, just because it’s what everyone does year after year, doesn’t mean it has to continue. In this case, discontinuing the traditional meat consumption during the holidays, or prepping your big holiday meal sans a ham or turkey, is a smart way to deviate from the norm without losing any of the excitement or charm of the season.more→

Many healthy food fans know that avocado is the secret ingredient in this kind of nondairy chocolate mousse. It’s silky smooth, and maca makes it even better. Maca’s malt-like flavor blends beautifully with chocolate. We recently received a package of Soul Organics Organic Maca Powder and tried a couple of our favorite ways to use maca — Strawberry-Vanilla Maca Smoothie, as well as simply stirring in a spoonful into granola with chocolate almond milk — yum! Maca is a fabulous superfood to add to your life. Learn more about it on our Frequently Asked Questions about Maca Root. more→

Panforte means strong bread, so be strong. Go lavish with the spices here — they balance the richness of the fruit and nuts — and don’t wimp out with the black pepper. Traditionally, panforte is made with honey — it’s the goo bonding the dried fruit and nuts. Swap it for vegan honey. The best commercial one I know is BeeFree Honee. I’ve also had good luck making this recipe with brown rice syrup, which has plenty of goo and adds a caramel-y note. Use a good sharp knife and serve skinny slices with a cup of espresso or a small glass of vin santo or sambucca. Recipe and photo contributed by Ellen Kanner.more→